I used to wear the cheap-o digital watches but couldn’t stand the resin watch bands; they were hard to keep clean, and they always broke after a year or two of wear and tear. Replacing them was a hassle.

I much prefer the metal watch bands; easy to keep clean and they last forever.

For the past five or six years I’ve been addicted to Casio G-Shock Wave Ceptor Tough Solar watches (can’t recall their model numbers; there are a lot of them). These are very tough, durable, solar powered, and synchronize their time wirelessly with the atomic clock in Colorado. I can wear these watches forever and never have to worry about having to correct the time. Perfect.

]]>By: howaboutthisdangithttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-956425
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-956425As other have already noted, it is much faster and easier to rotate your wrist around than it is to fish a phone out of your pocket, especially if your hands are full. As far as comfort goes, I usually don’t even notice my watch – unlike my cell phone which is more than a bit of an annoyance.

Modern tech is all well and good, but the right tech for the job is better.

but as a generalization, i find the “cellphones already display time, therefore watches are redundant” too simplistic. if this was true, then the wrist watch should never have been invented because we already had pocket watches. it’s really just easier to glance at your wrist than to dig out some timepiece from your pocket or watch.

]]>By: Anonymoushttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-956434
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-956434I have a Casio like this. They last forever, are cheap and functional. This is my third one, previous two lost or broken outdoors.

Mine is “stainless steel case” model, but it turns out the steel is only fraction of a millimeter thick, so I have scraped it off while climbing. Now my “stainless” model looks exactly like this one: gray plastic case.

]]>By: Mark Temporishttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-957462
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-957462I stopped wearing a watch because I use a computer all day. It’s incredibly irritating and painful to have the watchband continuously scrape against the edge of the desk.

I really can’t understand this love for analog over digital watches, though. It’s less efficent to have to figure out the time than just have it fed to you.

]]>By: RadioSilencehttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-956441
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-956441i got one of those when i got a christmas job in a department store. i’d just use my phone to tell the time but the shop had a no-phones-on-the-shop-floor policy so i got the cheapest watch i could find.

i ended up wearing it for about five years until the strap snapped. great little watch.
the strap can end up getting a bit sweaty in hot weather though.

]]>By: Anonymoushttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-956698
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-956698I got my (checks back of watch) F201WR, which is very similar, because I needed a dual-time whatch while vacationing overseas…and then started wearing it on bike rides and jogs…and now wear it almost all the time.

You’d think the anti-terror people would realize that this watch was used by terrorists because it was extremely common, not the other way around. These watches are very common all over the third world because they are reliable and cheap.

It’s cool because it’s good technology that does its job insanely well. And so cheap you could replace it every month for less than the cost of a fancy jewelry watch. (FD, I have some fancy automatics, and I love them, but none of them actually KEEPS TIME as well as this little wonder.

]]>By: warrenohttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-956443
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-956443And the best part is that its beeps and alarms sound every bit as good as a Casio keyboard!
]]>By: Anonymoushttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-956702
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-956702omg that is so inspiring. i have for a while been considering giving up on my decision to be a chemist because of some of my learning disabilties. thanks for reminding me it is possible.
]]>By: pjcamphttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-956706
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-956706Why do you need a watch?

Don’t you have a phone?

]]>By: Anonymoushttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-956708
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-956708If you can show me an $11 phone that you can take into the shower, use safely while riding bike, and run continuously for 8 years without recharging, then yes, the watch is dead.

Not everyone carries a phone. Not everyone wants to.

Thanks for posting this. I am going to get this watch – it’s exactly what I need.

]]>By: AnnieGetYourFunhttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-958502
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-958502I love digital watches, because I’ve never been good at telling time on a regular one (once the hour hand gets close to the next hour, I can’t help but read 4:50 as 5:50), but this… this is an ugly-ass watch.
]]>By: RadioSilencehttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-956458
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-956458not only more ergonomic, safer.

wrist watches were introduced in the first world war to replace army officers’ pocket watches as having a small chain hanging across the front of one’s uniform was thought of as a hazard.

]]>By: OoerictoOhttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-958507
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-958507if a cell phone is only as useful as a pocket watch then this argument holds water.

i rarely need to know time quickly enough when i don’t have a cellphone to warrant a watch. exceptions are while exercising, and my wristwatch doubles as a heart monitor. for those who do check the time often, i get them wearing a watch. i also understand wearing a nice watch to go with an outfit. i wear a tie because it goes with my suit(s), not because it has any functional purpose.

]]>By: magnetsandlasershttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-956460
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-956460I see what you did there.
]]>By: gthshttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-956729
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-956729Are people seriously saying that it’s easier to fish your phone out of your pocket to look at the time than to flick a quick glance at your wrist? Apple’s relentless marketing has softened your brains.

I had a friend who didn’t wear a watch but seemed to treat me like his personal timekeeper because he was always asking me what the time was. Should’ve gotten him one of these.

(I’ve been rocking an analogue watch forever, but these babies do have a utilitarian cachet that makes them a design classic.)

]]>By: Anonymoushttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-960061
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-960061Proud F-91W owner, I’ve had it since 2006 when it was given to me by a kid for volunteering in latin america. It soon became my main watch. I have some fancy watches in my dresser, all the batteries are dead. So I don’t exactly know how old this one is, but I’ve worn it every day for ~4 yr with the original battery. I put a timex band on it a few years ago when the original plastic strap disintegrated. This one is cloth velcro and works great. It hasn’t worn down at all. Better than a cellphone or a heavy metal fancy watch. I did notice some time last year that it dropped about a minute off the time when I originally set it. 1 min / 3 yr seems good enough for all practical purposes.
]]>By: ackphthttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-956484
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-956484Dude, that’s my watch. I do have my share of man-jewelery, but it’s all out in the garage.

I’ve been using wristwatches a lot longer than I’ve been using cell phones, and if you ask me for the time I’ll give it to you while the kids are still fumbling with their power-on menus.

And anyone who complains of the additional weight on their wrist needs to get out in the sun more often.

]]>By: Anonymoushttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-956485
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-956485I’m actually wearing this watch. I’ve chosen it wisely (That was an Indiana Jones related joke, this watch is like the holy grail of watches :D)
]]>By: taosk8rhttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-956741
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-956741Huh, while many people have remarked on the reason this watch has become infamous, I am really hoping anyone her isn’t naive enough that they haven’t realized that this was probably the majority of the reason behind the recommendation.
]]>By: Stickarmhttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-956755
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-956755Cellphone vs. wristwatch is sort of apples and oranges, a more accurate comparison would be cellphone vs. pocket watch.

Saying that wristwatches are useless is an incredibly poor criticism. Watches like the one in this post are actually required equipment for most emergency services jobs, so there are reasons why people might take the time to consider their specific merits. That discussion might not apply to every reader on Boing Boing, but there is an opportunity for insight here that can still be meaningful to non-participating observers.

]]>By: Quibblerhttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-957014
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-957014Yes I’ve had one of these for about 20 years (the model without the alarm). I’m on my fourth battery (maybe they don’t last as long in the tropics). I work with strong magnets and the analogue watches quickly freeze when magnetized.
I cannot understand who have there cell phones with them all the time it’s weird.
]]>By: Anonymoushttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-957015
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-957015why does anyone still use a phone when you can now make phone calls on wrist watches?

why does anyone still use a camera when you can take pictures and video with a wrist watch?

why does anyone still use a gps… etc etc

]]>By: Jonathan Badgerhttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-957021
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-957021Because a watch takes a fraction of a second to check the time and doesn’t require hands to be free – just a twist of the wrist/forearm.

I *know* that some people use their phone as a watch, but that requires 1) digging around in your pocket 2) pulling out the phone 3) If you have an iphone/android, pressing a button to activate the screen 4) turning the screen back off to conserve battery 5) putting away the phone. Why do all this? Isn’t the point of new technology to allow us to do existing tasks faster, not slower?

]]>By: zikmanhttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-956766
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-956766I think the people that say wristwatches are dead have never worn one regularly for a long period of time. I’m in college and I got the calculator version of this casio watch and I’ve been wearing it for two years now. I’ve had a cell phone for quite a bit longer than that. I wear the watch every single day and consider it a lot more convenient than pulling out my phone every time I want to know the time.
]]>By: Anonymoushttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-957545
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-957545WOW! I’m not the only one who loved this watch! It survived my basic training in the military better than I did, then on my first posting I was amazed to find my first Group Captain had one.

You’ve just made my day.

]]>By: Anthttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-957035
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-957035I still wear CASIO Data Bank calculator watches (currently a 150 model). I don’t need smartphones, PDAs, cellular/cell phones, laptops/notebooks, etc. for simple stuff. I rarely go out anyways. I do agree that they last long. I have had this current one since 2002, 2003, or so. I had a previous one that lasted since my high school days! :) Oh and nerds/geeks FTW!
]]>By: Dorkomatichttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-958321
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-958321What? Is there no love for mechanical watches?
My smartphone does tell the time – but needs a very regular spurt of electrons to help it keep doing it. My watch is a 1970s mechanical wind-up affair from Russia and can be powered for nearly two days simply by winding the knurled adjuster on the side. It’s also far prettier and more distinctive than a phone. Go figure.
]]>By: penguinchrishttp://boingboing.net/2010/12/03/casio-f91w-wrist-wat.html#comment-956800
Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000#comment-956800As a guy, I’m never going to pierce my ears (or anything else), wear a necklace, bracelet, or any piece of jewelry really. I will wear a wedding ring when I get married. I will wear cuff-links if I ever wear a shirt with french cuffs (I have one, but have never had occasion to actually wear it – and I haven’t found any less-expensive cuff links I like).

So: enter the watch. I can wear one every day, and make some sort of statement with it like people might with jewelry. As it turns out though, I avoid anything flashy in general, and greatly appreciate function – but I love excellent “industrial” design. Understated, classy kind of stuff.

I had a cheap, very simple and elegant (though obviously cheap) looking analog Casio for years and years. When the band wore out, I looked at the scratched and beat-up plastic “crystal” (from years of geology trips and field work and other outdoor activities, working with tools and machinery, etc.) and decided to try something different.

I considered this watch – I like its case design, simplicity, etc. However, I don’t feel that digital watches can ever be particularly classy (except the old LED ones), and especially not with a plastic band (which I don’t like for several reasons). I ended up choosing the same model Citizen Eco-Drive that’s also mentioned here. I got a different band for it. Cost ten times as much, but… I’ve never even come close to losing or destroying my old cheap one, so I’m not too concerned. And the features and functionality are great, and very cool.

I also got an early 70’s manual (wind-up) watch for about $25 on ebay to wear as something dressier. It’s really classy – I have some macro shots here – but it needs to be lubricated (stops and starts) and runs ridiculously fast (hair spring magnetized). I have worn it a few times anyway for the looks, but almost immediately missed having a reliable time display on my wrist. The cell-phone thing just doesn’t work for me.